As kimchi becomes more expensive in overseas markets due to local supply shortages this autumn, Chinese producers are well-positioned to capitalize on the situation.
Known for their high-quality and competitively priced products, Chinese kimchi has gained considerable popularity among overseas consumers, especially in South Korea. More than half of the South Korea's kimchi sourced from Qingdao City of east China's Shandong Province, with the county-level city Pingdu in Qingdao as a critical export hub.
To accommodate the surge in orders, processing facilities in Pingdu are ramping up operations. One company reports that its automated production lines are operating at full capacity, generating over 100 tons of kimchi daily, with more than 80 percent of that output earmarked for international markets.
"Since September, we have seen an explosive growth in orders. Orders from countries like South Korea, Thailand, and Singapore have surged, with South Korean orders making up 70 percent of our total volume. And export prices have risen compared to last year," said Li Ping, sales director of the food company.
The recent surge in kimchi prices can be attributed to a decrease in cabbage production, prompting Chinese companies to enhance their processing capabilities to fulfill the growing demand.
"This year, the supply of cabbage has been severely impacted by weather conditions, leading to difficulties in harvesting cabbage in many areas and challenges in planting winter storage cabbage, which has significantly reduced cabbage availability. Additionally, kimchi made from autumn and winter cabbage tends to be crunchier and sweeter. Taking all these factors into account, both kimchi prices and order volumes have increased compared to previous years," Li explained.
Currently, Qingdao is home to over 20 substantial kimchi processing enterprises. In the first eight months of this year, the city exported 173,000 tons of kimchi, marking an over 12 percent increase year on year. Expectations are high that this year's exports to South Korea will reach 300,000 tons.
Chinese kimchi producers ramp up output as overseas demand soars
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Slovakia's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Juraj Blanar in Beijing on Tuesday.
Noting that in recent years, under the guidance of the two countries' leaders, the China-Slovakia strategic partnership has maintained high-level momentum, Wang said the relationship has become a model for countries of different sizes and systems to coexist in friendship, treat each other as equals and pursue win-win cooperation.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, briefed the Slovak side on the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. He said that China is ready to enhance experience sharing with Slovakia on party and state governance, make good use of mechanisms such as the intergovernmental cooperation committee, and increase people-to-people and grassroots exchanges.
China is ready to work with Slovakia to act on the vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits and jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity, Wang said.
China always believes that China and Europe should remain committed to properly resolving frictions and differences through dialogue and consultation, and hopes Slovakia will continue to play a constructive role in the sound and steady development of China-Europe relations, Wang noted.
Blanar congratulated China on the successful convening of the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, saying that the overall leadership of the Party and long-term political and social stability are the institutional strength and political guarantee behind China's sustained and rapid development. Slovakia is ready to strengthen inter-party exchanges with China, he added.
Blanar noted that Slovakia firmly adheres to the one-China policy and always regards China as an important partner. Slovakia will continue to do its utmost to provide a stable and sound environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and cooperate in the country and offer greater facilitation for personnel exchanges, he said.
Slovakia is also ready to play a constructive role in Europe-China dialogue and cooperation and will continue to support and take part in China-Central and Eastern European Countries cooperation, Blanar added.
Chinese FM holds talks with Slovak counterpart
